Jury Deadlocked in Sentencing of Franklin over Tillman's Murder

The Douglas County jury charged with coming to a verdict in the Bobby Tillman murder appears to be deadlocked, according to cbsatlanta.

Tracen Franklin, 20, was found guilty last week of murdering of Bobby Tillman, 18, after a high school party in 2010.

Cbsatlanta reports the jury is in a 10-2 deadlock and if they can't reach a verdict, the judge will hand down a sentence.

Franklin no longer faces the death penalty, leaving the jury or the judge the choice to give him life in prison or life without parole.

Prosecutors would like the judge to tell jurors to reach a verdict but defense attorneys would be satisfied with the judge's sentence, according to cbsatlanta.

A Douglas County jury took less than two hours to decide Tracen Franklin was guilty of killing Bobby Tillman two years ago, according to the Atlanta-Journal Constitution.

WSB-TV reported Frankin's attorney, Bruce Harvey, did not deny Franklin's involvement in the beating, but he is trying to convince jurors that the beating was not "premeditated or planned" in an effort to avoid the death penalty.

Emanuel Boykins, pleaded guilty last spring to being the first to attack Tillman at a high school party that got out of control, avoiding a death penalty trial.

Under an agreement with the state, Emanuel Boykins pleaded guilty to killing Tillman and was sentenced to life in prison with the opportunity for parole after 30 years, according to wsbtv.com.

Douglas County District Attorney David McDade did not seek the death penalty against two other suspects, Quantez Devonta Mallory and Horace Damon Coleman.

Related Douglasville Patch stories:

• Franklin Convicted in Tillman Murder
• Tracen Franklin Murder Trial Under Way
•  City Council Passes Party Resolution
• Murder Defendants Must Plead Guilty or Face Death Penalty
• AJC Reports DA to Seek Death Penalty in Tillman Murder
• AJC Reports Guilty Plea in Tillman Killing
• No Deal for 3 of 4 Tillman Defendants
• Boykins Pleads Guilty to Tillman Murder
• Death Penalty Sought in Tillman Death
• Bobby Tillman Story (A Mothers Sacrifice) Tribute